Ohi'a lehua bloom, Mauna Kea behind

A brilliant Ohi'a Lehua bloom near the Pu'u O'o trail about a mile from the saddle road (5600 feet elevation). Mauna Kea is in the background, with one of the observatories gleaming in the morning sunlight. This trail traverses a diversity of Mauna Loa lava flows of various ages and passes through some old growth kipukas with huge ancient trees. It's not a heavily used trail, but is well worth taking a few hours to hike it. Mornings are best before the cloud bank moves up the slope from Hilo.